THE STRANGER
Tired and exhausted with the water-skin on
her back, she was gasping and going towards her
house where innocent children, their eyes fixed at
the door, were eagerly waiting for the arrival of
their mother. On her way, an unknown man approached
her. He took the water-skin from her
and placed it on his back. The door opened and
the children saw their mother entering the house
with a stranger. He placed the water-skin on the
ground and said:
"Well, it seems you don't have anyone to fetch
water for you; how come you are so forlorn?"
"My husband was a soldier; Ali sent him to
the frontier where he was killed. Now I am alone
with these little children."
The stranger said no more. Bowing down his
head he went away. But the thought of the helpless
window and orphans remained in his mind. He
could hardly sleep in the night. Early in the morning
he picked up a basket; put some meat, flour
and dates in it; went straight to her house and
knocked at the door.
"Who are you?"
"I am the man who brought your water yesterday.
Now I have brought some food for the
children"
"May God bless you and judge between us
and Ali"
said:
She opened the door. Entering the house he
"I wish to do some good acts. Either let me
knead the flour and bake the bread or allow me to
look after the children.."
"Very well, but I can do the job of kneading
and cooking better than you. You take care of the
children till I finish cooking"
She went to knead the flour Immediately he
grilled some meat which he had brought and fed
the children saying to each child while putting
morsel in his mouth:
"My son, forgive Ali if he has failed in his duty
towards you"
The flour got ready; she called: "Gentlemen!
put fire in the oven:" He went and put fire in the
oven. When flames rose up, he brought his face
near the fire and said, "Taste the heat of fire. It is
the punishment for those who fail in their duty
towards orphans and widows."
By chance, a woman from the neighbouring
house came in. Recognizing the stranger, she
cried: "Woe, don't you recognize the man who is
helping you? He is Amirul-Muumineen (commander
of the faithfuls) Ali bin Abi-Talib."
The widow came forward and shamefacedly
cried: "Curse and shame to me. I beg your pardon:"
"No, I beg your pardon for I failed in my duty
towards you."
Presented by www.ziaraat.com
ANECDOTES OF PIOUS MEN
by:
Mortaza Motahhari
__._,_.___
.
__,_._,___
No comments:
Post a Comment